Learn It

AllMusic Review
by Alex Henderson

When Times Square hit the Manhattan club scene in the mid-'90s, there was no doubt that the band was intent on having fun -- lots of it. Recalling the Ramones, the Buzzcocks and early Damned as well as Blondie, the New Yorkers offer an invigorating throwback to the more humorous side of punk and new wave on Learn It. The trio's focal point is lead singer/guitarist Jill Matthews, who had made a name for herself as a Golden Gloves boxer before joining the Square. Her sexy but comic persona proves to be a major asset on such hard-rocking yet lighthearted fare as "Headshrinker," "42nd Street" and "Devil in Disguise." One of the CD's best offerings is the early-'60s-influenced "What a Guy," which sounds like a twisted combination of the Ramones and the Shangri-Las. Highly entertaining from start to finish, Learn It is well worth searching for.